Draft regulator



Aug. 16, 1938. T. J. coLlHAN 2,127,238

\ DRAFT REGULATOR Filed Nov 19, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 By l M 5m Attorneys J3 Inventor Aug. 16, 1938. J U AN 2,127,288

DRAFT REGULATOR Filed Nov. 19, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Attorneys Patented Aug. 16, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

My invention relates to improvements in draft regulators for use on boilers, more particularly locomotive boilers.

The invention is designed with the particular 5 purpose in view of providing a practical, inexpensive means of simple construction adapted to be readily attached to the smoke box of a locomotive for operation under the blast of the exhaust passing therethrough to break the pull, or lift, in the fire box incident to the rush of the exhaust through the smoke box, and thereby obviate undue suction in said fire box such as would tend to draw flames and sparks therefrom through the boiler fiues.

To the accomplishment of the above, and subordinate objects presently appearing, a preferred embodiment of my invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, set forth in detail in the succeeding description, and defined in the claim appended hereto.

In said drawings- Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in vertical longitudinal section of a locomotive boiler having my improved draft regulator applied thereto,

Figure 2 is a view in front elevation,

Figure 3 is a View in vertical transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, and

Figure 4 is a View in perspective of a bracket forming part of the device.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, my invention has been shown therein as applied to a locomotive boiler I including the usual flues 2, front flue plate 3, smoke box 4 having the front plate 5, smoke stack 6 and the usual exhaust pipe 1 leading from the cylinders, not shown, into the smoke box 4.

According to my invention, a circular aperture 8, of any suitable size, is provided in the front plate 5 axially thereof and for the admission of atmospheric air into the fire box 4. A U-shaped bracket 9, of right angles form and of suitable metal, and comprising a breast bar I and right angled legs I I is secured to the plate in upright position, in the center of the aperture 8, by means of bolts I2 extending through said legs and plates and having nuts I3 threaded on to the ends thereof. Extending inwardly, equidistantly from the breast bar Ill through said aperture 8 and into the smoke box 4, for a suitable distance, is a pair of upper and lower, horizontally disposed guide rods I4 and I5, each secured at its front end in said breast bar ID by means of a pair of nuts I6 threaded thereon upon opposite sides of said bar II] respectively. The guide rods I4 and I5 are each provided on their inner ends with a head I'I. slidably mounted on the guide rods I4 and I5, on the inner side of the aperture 8, is a circular closure plate l8 of sufficient diameter to close said aperture.

Preferably the plate I8 has formed thereon guide sleeves I9 through which the rods I4 and I5 extend and which prevent said plate from binding on said rods.

The plate I8 is yieldingly urged As will now be seen the device described forms a valve in which the closure plate I8 is the valve member tensioned by the spring 20 to seat against the front plate 5 and close the valve opening 8 and so that when the exhaust steam blasts through the smoke box 4 the .suction created therein by the blast will pull the plate I8, or valve member, into opening position in opposition to the spring 20 and admit air to the smoke box 4. As will be understood the air thus admitted to the smoke box 4 will break the suction created in the fire box, by way of the lines 2, under such action of the exhaust steam, and thereby obviate the discharge of sparks from the smoke stack 6 also the formation of holes in the fire bed. The heads IT on the rods I4 and I5, as will be manifest, establish the limit of opening movement of the plate I8, or valve member, as shown by dotted lines in Figure 1.

The invention will,

it is believed, be readily understood from the foregoing without further explanation.

Manifestly, modifications in structural features described may be resorted to without departing from the inventive concept and right is herein reserved toall such modifications falling within the scope of the subjoined claim.

What I claim is:

A draft regulator for use on a boiler smoke box of the type having a draft opening therein, said regulator comprising a U -shaped bracket from closing relation.

THOMAS J. COLIHAN. 

